He or she would make a very good advertising copy writer because whoever it is has verbally managed to make a sow's ear into a silk purse. In the right hands that bike could win the TdF, I'm sure (at least the copy almost suggests it). If only the spelling mistakes were not there......

If it wasn't for the fact I don't like flatbar road bikes I actually would buy that as a commuter, I've been over one in the local Kmart and it doesn't look too bad to me (bearing in mind i'm the one who bought a $99 Repco singlespeed ).

That said though, aside from the "value-adding" of the flowery prose and admittedly excellent photography, it is a little underhanded to try and move the thing on for $350, it's worth $150 sure, but not $350.

I'd just like to know how the heck he came up with the term "aviation style speed metres"?

When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments- Elizabeth West.

My spidey senses say there is something going on here - another gumtree ad with a similar photo, random accent in words, eg "Shimâno", unusual address description & the wording is refers to features hitherto unknown "Shimâno leading speed up technology" "Extended triple mountain power" but of course these are "feature seen only in a handful of Advanced bikes"

find_bruce wrote:My spidey senses say there is something going on here - another gumtree ad with a similar photo, random accent in words, eg "Shimâno", unusual address description & the wording is refers to features hitherto unknown "Shimâno leading speed up technology" "Extended triple mountain power" but of course these are "feature seen only in a handful of Advanced bikes"

The one find_Bruce posted is exactly the same ad I've been seeing in Gumtree for a couple years -- either the seller is an astonishing die-hard or they're selling more than one of the same bike.

Somebody with some time on their hands and an expendable email address could have an enormous amount of fun with this character endlessly asking ridiculous questions about the bikes in the same befuddling language of the ads, then apologise for wasting their time because you've just noticed another more preferable bike that you'll be seeking out instead -- of course, it's another of the same seller's bikes and you just repeat the process... hours of fun for all the family.

Interesting - it is like real estate advertising where you arrive, disappointed that the sky isn't blue, the grass isn't green and what wasn't shown was far more enlightening that what was shown (like high voltage powerlines over the top of the house).

I understand buyer beaware however the buyers of these bikes are generally not experienced and while it is legal, it is morally wrong as I it misrepresents the products and value.

The most interesting question is whether anything can be done about it.

AUbicycles wrote:The most interesting question is whether anything can be done about it.

If someone can convince Gumtree that the seller has breached the terms and conditions (ie. not being false or misleading), then they may take action.

I guess you'd have to convince them that the first one for example was in fact a Southern Star and not a curiously named Shímano Touch. Or perhaps that it was both false and misleading when it stated "I'll just make it short" and then went on to write a book (as if I can talk) , or highlight any other clear mistruths it contains.

I wouldn't hold my breath though. I've never had any luck getting ads that clearly breach their own conditions removed.

That said, perhaps some kind of mass participation campaign of complaints by some kindly concerned citizens of the interwebz might prove more persuasive?

Say for instance that somebody who knew exactly what they were talking about came across a similar type of glorified puff on some site devoted to advertising various forms of bric-a-brac and suchlike, and that person found an instance or two where the seller had strayed the wrong side of elaboration and then decided to make their discoveries public on some kind of forum or newsboardgroupweb somewhere, then surely there wouldn't be anything wrong with a few thousand folk, who...oh I don't know...perhaps thought that the practice was a bit on the nose and elected of their own free will and in good conscience to bring to the attention of the proprietors of the host site these apparent discrepancies with the terms and conditions and posting practices contained thereupon, all perfectly legally and orderly through some form of sanctioned reporting process obviously (coughaboveandtotherightofthePosterContactInformationcough), and if successful in their endeavours with...let's call it a test case for want of a better term, these same community minded individuals decided to help the proprietors in identifying some similar circumstances occurring therewithin their site, regularly, well surely it would be incumbent upon said proprietors to doff their caps and wish all of these fantastic folk...nay, fine upstanding examples of all that is right and good with the interworlds a "Hail good fellow (or fellowette) and well met, and cheers big time for your selfless assistance in ensuring that our site remains free from...er...let's call them factual errors (I've no idea why I was was thinking of pond life)." Surely....